FIN 320F Foundations of FinanceFall 2013 Syllabus
FIN 320F Foundations of Finance, Fall 2013
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Section 1.Objective
Welcome to Foundations of Finance! The purpose of this course is to help you develop a basic understanding of the US financial system, corporate finance, and financial investments.
Section 2.Contact Information
Professor: Heidi Toprac
Office: CBA 2.232
Office Hours: Mon & Wed11:00 – 12:30, Thu 12:00 – 2:00, and by appointment
Email:
TA: Daniel BrayTA:Brian Heider
Office: To be announced on BlackboardOffice:To be announced on Blackboard
Office Hours: To be announced on BlackboardOffice Hours:To be announced on Blackboard
Email: To be announced on BlackboardEmail:To be announced on Blackboard
Feel free to drop in unannounced during office hours. Otherwise, email is my preferred method of communication. I keep all graded exams in my office. Please bear in mind that UT’s privacy policy prohibits your TAs & me from discussing grade-related information via telephone or email.
Section 3.Prerequisites
To remain enrolledinFIN 320F, you must have successfully completed ACC 310F (or ACC 311 and ACC 312). Students lacking this prerequisite will be dropped. If you have fulfilled the prerequisites but are having difficulty registering for FIN 320F, please visit the McCombs Undergraduate Programs Office, CBA 2.400, for assistance.
Section 4.Tools & Materials
Text:We will be using CFIN, written by Scott Besley and Eugene Brigham, published by Cengage. Any edition of the book is fine. If you purchase a new book, you will have access to all of the online study tools (additional practice problems, quizzes, etc.). The book is available at the Co-op or from 4ltrpress.cengage.com. (Under the “Business & Computers” heading, select “Corporate Finance” and “Learn More.”) If you order online, you can choose either the print or electronic version.
i>clicker:We will be using the i>clicker remote student response system to check homework each day. You can use your existing i>clicker, or you can purchase a new or used one at the Co-op or online. You must register your iclicker and start bringing it to class by the 2nd class day. Register your clicker on boththe i>clicker website ( and on Blackboard. Click on “Blackboard Tools” then on “i>clicker” to register your clicker on Blackboard.
If your i>clicker number has rubbed off, the i>clicker website has a look-up functionyou can use. Alternatively, stop by during my office hours to locate the number. If you register a new clicker anytime after the 2nd class day, please email me your name, eid, unique number, and clicker numberafter you register it. You will receive points for all of the “clicks” sent by your new clicker, effective as of the date that your i>clicker is registered and your email to me has been sent.
Note that you are not allowed to share or borrow a classmate’siclicker. Allowing another student to use your iclicker, using another student’s iclicker, or simply having more than one iclicker in your possession will be considered a violation of scholastic integrity requirements and may result in a report to Student Judicial Services, as well as final grade penalties. Appropriateiclicker usage will be randomly verified during the semester.
Calculator:You will need a calculator. I highly recommend that you use a calculator that can perform financial functions (eg. INT, PV, PMT, IRR). My favorite is my old graphing calculator, a TI-83 Plus(if you press the “APPS” key, you can turn it into a financial calculator). The going rate on Craigslist for a TI-83 Plus is about $40. The HP 12C is the classic, but it uses Reverse Polish Notation, which takes some getting used to. You could also use a TI 83, a SharpEL-733A, or several others. See for calculator recommendations and instructions on their use.
You may not use a cell phone as a calculator during exams.
Blackboard:Almost everything you need for this course will be posted on Blackboard—lecture slides, homework solutions,grades—all of it.
Email:From time to time, I may need to email you. The communications policy in the General Information Catalog states: "Electronic mail (e-mail), like postal mail, is a mechanism for official University communication to students. The University will exercise the right to send e-mail communications to all students, and the University will expect that e-mail communications will be received and read in a timely manner." You can verify and/or update your email address here:
Software:All course materials will be prepared using the Microsoft Office 7 suite of products. If you have an older version of Office, you can download a simple reader at the Microsoft Download Center.
Section 5.Grades
Your grade in this course will be determined by your performance on exams and homework.
- Exams: 3highest (out of 4 possible) exams @ 30% each 90%
- Homework: Submitted daily; the three lowest days will be dropped 10%
Course Total 100%
Check Blackboardeach dayto ensure your grades are being posted correctly. If you suspect an error in grading, you must contact me within 1 week of the date that the exam or homework assignment was due. Exam scores will be posted in Blackboard within 48 hours of each exam. Homework scores will be posted daily. (See course schedule for exact dates.) Grade-related issues that are not resolved within 1 weekof the due date will be subject to a penalty, as follows: after 1 week, your score will be reduced by 25%. After 2 weeks, your score will be reduced by 50%. After 3 weeks, the disputed item is no longer eligible for credit.
Final grades are standards-based, rather than norms-based, so there is no need for an artificial curve. Final grades will be assignedas indicated in the table below. Standard rounding rules apply: total course scores ending in .5 and higher will be rounded up to the next whole number; total course scores ending in .4 and lower will be rounded down.
FIN 320F Syllabus Fall 2013Page 1 of 7
FIN 320F Foundations of FinanceFall 2013 Syllabus
From / To / Grade / Grade Points93 / 100 / A / 4.00
90 / 92 / A- / 3.67
87 / 89 / B+ / 3.33
83 / 86 / B / 3.00
80 / 82 / B- / 2.67
77 / 79 / C+ / 2.33
73 / 76 / C / 2.00
70 / 72 / C- / 1.67
67 / 69 / D+ / 1.33
63 / 66 / D / 1.00
60 / 62 / D- / 0.67
0 / 59 / F / 0.00
The lowest passing grade is a D-. In other words, you must earn a total course score of at least 60% to pass FIN320F.
You must take a minimum of three exams to pass FIN 320F.
FIN320F may not be taken pass/fail if you are seeking the Business Foundations Program certificate. For details, see
FIN 320F Syllabus Fall 2013Page 1 of 7
FIN 320F Foundations of FinanceFall 2013 Syllabus
Section 6.Homework
Finance is, in many respects, an applied math class. As in most math classes, you will be provided with a homework assignment every day. Each assignment will be posted on Blackboard. We will spot-check your answers during class the following day, using the i>clicker student response system. For example, on our first day of class we will discuss Unit 0.1. There is nosuggested reading assignment. After attending class, go to Blackboard, download Homework 0.1 and answer the questions. On our second day of class, you will be asked to use your i>clicker to enter your answers to selected Unit 0.1 questions. We will also use i>clickers to express opinions (Would you prefer to invest in stocks or bonds?), and to answer exam-type questions on the fly (What did IBM’s stock yield in 2012?).
You will have the opportunity to earn several homework points each day. Opinion questions will be worth one point. Questions that have a correct answer will be worth two points: one point for answering the question, and one point for selecting the correct answer. When calculating thehomework portion of yourfinal course grade, your 3 lowest homework scores will be dropped.
If you forget your i>clicker or if your i>clicker runs out of batteries, you will miss the points for that day. There are no make-up opportunities for missed homework. If you cheat—for example, if you use an i>clicker that is registered in someone else’s name—you will be subject to serious penalties, up to and including expulsion. Please see Section 4 for information about registering your i>clicker.
Section 7.Exams
The exams in this course are designed to measure how well you have synthesized the concepts learned in class. There will be three in-class exams—one for each section of the course. Each will be non-comprehensive; that is, each will cover only the material related to that section. But bear in mind that the material builds on itself during the semester. There will also be an optional final exam during the final exam period. The final exam will be comprehensive; that is, it will cover material from the entire semester. Your goal is to avoid the final exam.
Each exam will have 33 multiple-choice questions (each worth 3 percentage points) and 1 opinion-based question (worth one percentage point). Everything in your text, on Blackboardand distributed and/or discussed in class is subject to examination. Bring your pencils, calculator(s), extra batteries and picture ID to each exam. There will be a formula sheet attached to each exam, so you need not bring your own. You may not use a cell phone, i-pod, or any other wireless device during an exam.
All exams and bubble sheets will be collectedat the end of each exam period, whether or not you have finished recording your answers. If you demand extra time because you have not recorded your exam answers by the end of the exam period, or if you take your exam in a section other than the one in which you are registered, a 20-percentage-point penalty will be deducted from your exam score. If any manual processing of your exam is required because, for example, you mis-bubbled your name or eid number, or bubbled in the wrong test form letter, etc., a 6-percentage-point penalty (the equivalent of two exam questions) will be deducted from your exam score.
You must take three exams to pass the course. If you miss an exam—because of illness, an accident, family issues, a funeral, a job interview, a sporting event, etc.—the final exam will serve as your make-up exam. The comprehensive final exam is the one and only make-up exam for the entire semester. It, too, will have 33 multiple-choice questions and 1 opinion-based question. The lowest one of your four exam scores will be dropped when computing your final course grade. At the end of the semester, if you are satisfied with your overall course score, you can skip the final exam.
The final exam will be a uniform final; that is, students from all sections of FIN 320F will be taking the final exam together. The dates and times of uniform finals are not determined by the Registrar until very late in the semester—usually three weeks before the last class day. As soon as the Registrar has posted the date and time for our final, I will announce it in class and on Blackboard. In past semesters, our final exam has occurred during the last period of the last day of finals week. If that holds true this semester, our final exam will occur at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec 17. Please recognize that I cannot make exceptions to the final exam schedule, regardless of your travel, wedding, surgery, job, family, etc. arrangements.
The Registrar will also schedule a make-up final exam. This make-up exam is available only to those students who have another final exam scheduled at the same time as our uniform final exam. The make-up final is not for students who have already purchased plane tickets, scheduled a job interview, or planned any other sort of event that conflicts with the uniform final exam. I cannot make exceptions; please do not ask me to do so.
Section 8.Religious Holy Days
I have employed the Interfaith Calendarin an attempt to structure the course schedule to avoid conflicts with major religious and cultural holidays. If you miss a homework assignment due to a religious holiday, we will simply drop that day when computing your homework score. If you need to miss an exam, UT Austin policy states that“you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day.”
Section 9.Academic Integrity
“The McCombs School of Business has no tolerance for acts of scholastic dishonesty. The responsibilities of both students and faculty with are described in detail in the BBA Program’s Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty at
By teaching this course, I have agreed to observe all faculty responsibilities described in that document. By enrolling in this course, you have agreed to observe all student responsibilities described in that document. If the application of the Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty to this class or its assignments is unclear in any way, it is your responsibility to ask me for clarification. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since dishonesty harms the individual, all students, the integrity of the University, and the value of our academic brand, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. You should refer to the Student Judicial Services website at to access the official University policies and procedures on scholastic dishonesty as well as further elaboration on what constitutes scholastic dishonesty.”
Section 10.Students with Disabilities
“The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.”
Section 11.Course Schedule
Please be advised that this schedule is subject to change. Any changes that occur will be announced in class and on Blackboard.
Day / Date / Unit / Topic and/or Activity / Suggested ReadingAug / Wed / 28 / 0.0
0.1 / Introduction to FIN 320F
Investor Expectations / Syllabus
September / Mon / 2 / -- / Labor Day Holiday: No class meeting
Wed / 4 / 1.0
1.1 / Introduction to Section 1: The Financial System
Financial Instruments: Debt / Chapter 6 (LO 1 & 2)
Mon / 9 / 1.2 / Financial Instruments: Equity / Chapter 7 (LO 1 & 2)
Wed / 11 / 1.3 / Financial Markets & Participants / Chapter 3
Mon / 16 / 1.4 / The Federal Reserve
Wed / 18 / 1.5 / Interest Rates: Determinants / Chapter 5
Mon / 23 / 1.6 / Interest Rates: Interpretation
Wed / 25 / 1.7 / Measuring Performance
Mon / 30 / 1.8 / Mutual Funds
October / Wed / 2 / Exam 1
Mon / 7 / 2.0
2.1 / Introduction to Section 2: Financial Analysis
Business Organization / Chapter 1
Wed / 9 / 2.2 / Income Taxes
Mon / 14 / 2.3 / Financial Reporting / Chapter 2
Wed / 16 / 2.4 / Financial Analysis: Ratios
Mon / 21 / 2.5 / Financial Analysis: Forecasting
Wed / 23 / 2.6 / Financial Analysis: Additional Tools
Mon / 28 / 2.7 / Risk vs Return: CAPM / Chapter 8
Wed / 30 / Exam 2
November / Mon / 4 / 3.0
3.1 / Introduction to Section 3: Time Value of Money
Compounding / Chapter 4
Wed / 6 / 3.2 / Discounting
Mon / 11 / 3.3 / Amortization
Wed / 13 / 3.4 / Capital Budgeting, part 1 / Chapters 9 & 10
Mon / 18 / 3.5 / Capital Budgeting, part 2
Wed / 20 / 3.6 / Capital Structure: WACC / Chapters 11 & 12
Mon / 25 / 3.7 / Stock & Bond Valuation / Chapter 6 (LO 2+) Chapter 7 (LO 2+)
Wed / 27 / 3.8 / Film: Frontline
Dec / Mon / 2 / 3.9 / Portfolio Development
Wed / 4 / Exam 3
Tue / 17 / Probable Date of Final Exam
Section 12.Campus Safety
“Please note the following information from the Office of Campus Safety and Security, 512-471-5767, :
- If an alarm is activated, we are required to exit the building. Please follow my instructions.
- Familiarize yourself with all exit doors. Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building.
- Students requiring assistance in evacuation should inform me via email immediately.
- Do not re-enter a building unless given instructions to do so by the Austin Fire Department, or the University of Texas at Austin Police Department or Fire Prevention Services.
- Concerns? Call the Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) at 512-232-5050.
- Further information regarding emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures can be found at: .”
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